Statement Regarding the Chibanian

1st July, 2018

The Geological Society of Japan
President Hiroki Matsuda

In June last year, a research group consisting of 32 Japanese scientists from 22 institutes submitted a proposal to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) for the Chiba Section (the geological section at Tabuchi, Ichihara, Chiba Pref.) to be recognized as a Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) to define the Lower-Middle Pleistocene boundary. The proposal was subsequently examined at the Working Group on L-M Boundary of the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) affiliated to the IUGS. In November 2017, the Working Group voted to approve the Chiba Section proposal and the result was reported to the executive committee of the IUGS. The IUGS later announced that a separate group from within Japan has raised objections to the proposal including casting doubt on the value of the scientific data used to support the proposal, and the final decision-making process
of the IUGS has been suspended from April this year.

The Geological Society of Japan has selected a rock, a mineral and a fossil that represent each of 47 Prefectures of Japan, and presented the selection list to the public on 10 May 2016, the Geology Day in Japan. Either geologically, industrially or historically important stones that occur in respective Prefectures are selected. The English version of the list is given below where Prefectures are arranged from North to South.

This is an outreach action of the Society in commemoration of its 125th Anniversary that is expected in 2018. Other anniversary-related actions of the Sosiety include cooperation for publication of “The Geology of Japan” (published by the Geological Society of London in April, 2016), support for the 10th International Earth Science Olympiad (20–27 August 2016 at Mie, Japan), and publication of a number of timely, comprehensive reviews on various fields of geological sciences in the Society’s journals; “The Journal of the Geological Society of Japan” and “Island Arc”.

We hope international audience can get quick insights into geological richness of the archipelago and useful materials to make geological communication with its dwellers by the list of Prefectural Stones of Japan.

Concern about the outcome of the L’Aquila prosecution

The geological Society of Japan wishes to express its grave misgivings about the way in which 6 geoscientists were held to be guilty of manslaughter as a result of the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake in Italy.

The L’Aquila earthquake resulted in the death of more than 300 people and widespread destruction to a culturally important area. This is a tragic loss and our thoughts are with the victims. It is important that lessons are learnt from this and other similar events to contribute to a better understanding of earthquake disaster and how risk governance can be improved. Geoscientists have a central role in this process.